Dear Doctor

Nurses Relations

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Saw this today, thought it was interesting

Dear Doctor,

I know it's almost doctor's day, and I know in a couple of months nurses get a whole week. But there's a serious intricacy that I think is lacking in our healthcare system. Doctors need to let the nurses who with them, that go above and beyond on a daily basis, that they notice and that they are appreciated. I find this very appropriate...

"Did you see me anticipate your need? That I knew what you wanted, even before you did? Did you notice me pay attention and pull open the chart to the exact part you were wondering about, even though you weren't talking to me? Did you see me take the patient for the test you ordered stat, even though I didn't have to, just so it would be done quicker? Did you hear me on the phone demanding an ICU bed so your patient could get the care they so desperately needed? Did you see me catch your near fatal mistake? Did you hear me question your order when you were heading in the wrong direction? Did you listen to my suggestions when you hit a roadblock of your own? Did you notice my offer to help, even though it wasn't my patient or even my unit? Did you notice my incredible technical skill as well as my compassion? Did you tell me?

- An Anonymous Nurse"

You should. You should tell them. A nurse is always a patient advocate, but if you make your nurse feel valued and appreciated they will go the extra mile for you as well. A great nurse is worth their weight in gold, and if you realize this and have on in your life, the least you can do is tell them so.

Copied and pasted from...

Dear Doctor... - FearlessBlogging.com

I agree with previous posters.

Most of the things done by nurses described in this letter is called "doing your darn job". Yes, a skilled nurse is very valuble to a physician/provider and it's my experience that most physicians understand this. The reverse is also true. My job is made a whole lot easier when the physicians I work with are skilled and conscientious, and most of them are.

I think that giving our co-workers praise and recognition when warranted, regardless of who we are and our co-worker's title, is a nice thing to do and most of us certainly enjoy feeling appreciated. However, I don't think that physicians are required to thank nurses any extra.

Most of the things done by nurses described in this letter is called "doing your darn job".

That about sums it up. Having money to count when I go home is thanks enough.

Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

While thanks and high-fives aren't necessary, I don't think anyone thinks those aren't nice when we get them...

I'm pretty darned appreciative of the docs, actually. They also have enormous responsibility and stress. And neither of us could do our jobs without the other.

Saw this today, thought it was interesting

Dear Doctor... - FearlessBlogging.com

You should. You should tell them. A nurse is always a patient advocate, but if you make your nurse feel valued and appreciated they will go the extra mile for you as well. A great nurse is worth their weight in gold, and if you realize this and have on in your life, the least you can do is tell them so.

How odd to write a note starting with Doctor's Appreciation Day coming up and then turning it into a demand for more attention and appreciate for yourself. I am honestly scratching my head on that one. It is kind of like luring someone in with the promise of something nice and then bonking them upside the head. Not going to do much to enhance the relationship between doctors and nurses.

I'll be blunt. What's her complaint? Nurses get a whole week of "appreciation" while the doctors, who went to med school for how many years and are the ones that actually diagnose and perform surgeries get only a day. She wants the doctors to "high five her" and "pat her on the back". When was the last time she did that for a doctor I wonder.

Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
I'll be blunt. What's her complaint? Nurses get a whole week of "appreciation" while the doctors, who went to med school for how many years and are the ones that actually diagnose and perform surgeries get only a day. She wants the doctors to "high five her" and "pat her on the back". When was the last time she did that for a doctor I wonder.

I would suspect that the writer would say that the providers get most of the appreciation from patients/families/administration the entire year.

The problem with that is they also get most of the blame for the entire year.

Sent from my iPhone.

Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

One time I complimented a doctor, one known to be fairly stoic, when he went into our patient's room and talked with the family about a difficult subject (running out of options). I was standing by at his request. When we came out, I simply smiled at him and told him he handled that very, very well. The shock on his face was remarkable. I think I embarrassed him, because he muttered something unintelligible and then hurried away. But he was softer the next time I saw him. Not so "stoic" and distant. I like to believe I made his day. I think it is rare doctors truly get thanked. Families will say thank you as they leave the room, but the real stuff, the meat of what we do? Probably not as much.

I guess my point is that recognition goes both ways and I seriously doubt doctors get many kudos from nurses either.

Be nice. That's the bottom line I guess. The original post? That wasn't nice.

You should go the extra mile not because the doctor appreciates you, but you should go the extra mile because its better for the patient.

I am a physician. I work close to 100 hours a week. When I am not in the hospital, all the nurses have my personal cell phone number so that they can call me at any and all hours of the night about my patients. I come in and see my patients every day of the week if I am in town, even if there is a doctor covering me.

I think about my patients while I am driving, while I am eating, and I even dream about my patients, because I am so worried knowing my decisions could mean their well-being or their death.

That is going the extra mile on the physician's end. I go this extra mile not because my partners appreciate me, the nurses appreciate me, or the hospital CEO appreciates me. I do it all for my patients.

You are not working for me; you do not need my appreciation. You are working for the patient, as am I.

I'm glad that this was the first response to this thread. Heartily agree with you.

Maybe I'm fortunate but I've had, for the most part, great working relationships with the physicians and NP's and PA's who work with me. I appreciate the idea that we are a team working FOR the patient.

:nurse:

I guess my point is that recognition goes both ways and I seriously doubt doctors get many kudos from nurses either.

/QUOTE]

That's a good point...I often hear nurses complain about doctors not appreciating "all that we do." But I've honestly never once seen a nurse compliment a doc after he or she makes a good call, stays late, etc. They're doing their job, and that's what we expect. And I tend to think that we don't get high fives, hugs, and praise for making a suggestion or spotting a change in a patient's condition because they EXPECT us to do that, because it's our job! At this point, a compliment over something like that would feel condescending.

Real appreciation between doctors and nurses comes in the form of taking each other's concerns seriously, being respectful during disagreements, and working as a team in tense situations.

Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.

Nothing wrong with getting some official appreciation once a year for actually doing your job ;)

Sent from my iPhone.

Specializes in Med nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN.

Once when working in LTC, I had to call a doc about something odd going on with a patient. I certainly had in mind a course of action to suggest if he wasn't inclined to intercede. Fortunately what came ou tof his mouth was exactly what I had in mind. Then I found myself saying ( quite light-heartedly), "Say, you're pretty good! That's exactly what I was thinking, too."

Thankfully he laughed.

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